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A Comparison of Household Recycling Behaviors in Norway and the United States

Publication Type  Journal Article
Year of Publication  2007
Authors  Kipperberg, G.
Journal Title  Environmental & Resource Economics
Volume  36
Pages  215-235
Key Words  community recycling programs; cross-country comparison; environmental policy; household waste management; user fees on waste disposal
Abstract   This paper investigates empirically the determinants of household recycling inNorway and compares the results with a similar, recently published, study of households in theUnited States. The comparison focuses on the relative importance of user fees on wastedisposal, community recycling programs, and socioeconomic factors. Both data sources arenationwide, material-specific, and at the household level. One major finding is that a disposalfee provides a significant economic incentive to Norwegian households, whereas its effectivenessin the United States is still up for debate. Providing households with convenientrecycling options, such as curbside and drop-off recycling, appears generally effective, but lessso in Norway than in the United States. Socioeconomic characteristics are less importantpredictors of behavior in Norway than in the United States. Qualifications on the comparisonare provided throughout and two extensions for future research are suggested at the end.
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